Now I don't mean your full on 40 on 100 hooligan fights, can't be arsed with none of that. I mean them more comedy moments that you know you should maybe really keep your mouth shut but your love for Liverpool means you can't. These normally happen when your in some foreign bar or a rival city, there's only you and a couple of mates, you've had a few to many and your in a bar full of rival fans who are giving it loads and who havn't even registered your there. Until you can't stomach it anymore and belt out "Liverrrpooool, Liverrpoooool". Then you get that American Werewolf in London moment, when everything stop's for what seems an age, and everyone stops and stares at you. This is where you think "fuck what have I done". Now it either goes one way or the other. You stand your ground out sing them and have some banter, or it goes wrong and you have to get out of there quick, with the odd dig coming your way as you try to get out, then it leads to a "Benny Hill" style chase through streets. Or there is the other stories where you told the Mrs your off for pint, only to turn up 3 days later after following the Reds around Europe. Think I'd sooner be chased by the angry mob than deal with the Mrs though.
My show of love happened in Rome of all places, probably not the best place to show your undying love for the Reds. It was just before we played them in the Champions League in 01/02 season, the match ended 0-0. I was in the Navy at the time and we had got to the Port of Civitavecchia on the Friday before the game, also had a ticket for the game so I was well happy. We had the weekend off so 3 of us jumped the train to Rome, got a hotel and went out on it. Now after a few bars I'm pretty pissed, and where in this bar which is bouncing and where having a laugh with these 8 Italian lads. They seemed alright and weren't arsed we where English. If it was Sunday/Monday the mood probably would have been different as that's when most Reds would be turning up.
The next thing this Kylie song comes on, I noticed a couple of the Italians are singing the chorus giving it "Lalalalala laRoma". So in my drunken state, I'm thinking "I"ll have some of this". So the next time the chorus comes, I put my arm around on of the lads and join in, but give it "Lalalalala laLiverpool". Well the laugh goes from his face straight away, and here's my American Werewolf moment. Everything fucking stops. I can't see any of my mates anywhere, they weren't Liverpool fans anyway but I still thought shit I need them here now. Then the lad nudges four of his mates and the fuckers are all around. Now I'm thinking I'm fucked. what do I do here? Fuck it best thing to do is keep singing. Next thing the lads other 3 mates have got the arms around me jumping up and down joining in with. They where only fucking Lazio fans, and clearly seen it as an opportunity to wind up the Roma oppo's. They calmed the Roma lot down, who they seen the funny side of it and the banter carried on through the night. Fucking dodge a bullet that night. But when it comes to Liverpool FC sometimes you just can't help yourself.